Grass Valley traffic stop ends in drug charges

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After a Nevada County Sheriff’s deputy recognized a passing driver as having an active arrest warrant Wednesday, both Garrett Woodgrift and his passenger, Megan Hernandez, ended up going to jail on drug charges.

Sgt. Justin Martin recognized Woodgrift as he was driving on La Barr Meadows Road at about noon and conducted a traffic stop, said Narcotics Task Force Member John Dzioba.

Martin was aware that Woodgrift was a known drug user and dealer and was also driving while having a suspended license, Dzioba said.

Woodgrift was taken into custody, and a search of his vehicle was conducted. Deputies reportedly located approximately 9 grams of methamphetamine and a methamphetamine pipe hidden in the bed of his pickup truck.

Both Woodgrift and Hernandez were determined to be under the influence of a controlled substance, Dzioba said.

Deputies later conducted a search of Woodgrift’s residence in the 12000 block of La Barr Meadows Road and reportedly located a small amount of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Hernandez, 31, was booked into the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility on suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance and possessing a controlled substance. She was being held in lieu of $11,000 bail.

A warrant had been issued for Woodgrift, 50, after he failed to appear on a criminal domestic violence case. Woodgrift was charged with spousal abuse, false imprisonment by violence, dissuading a witness, damaging a phone and violating probation in May.

On July 2, he pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor count of false imprisonment, and was sentenced to 90 days in jail.

He was to provide proof of enrollment in a batterers program by Oct. 1; when he failed to do so, the warrant was issued.

Woodgrift was booked into county jail on suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance and possessing a controlled substance. His bail amount was not available as of press time.